Stress Level

As we enter the second week of Advent, how is your stress level?  Oh I know, every year we promise to not get caught up in the frenzy and hassle of the season, but it never seems to play out that way.   No matter how hard we try,  the stress and anxiety return every year.

Howard Thurman reminds us that something special also returns every year: Christmas! In his book, The Moods of Christmas he offers this prayer for all of us:

Christmas returns, as it always does, with its assurance that life is good.
It is the time of lift to the spirit, when the mind feels its way into the common place, and senses the wonder of simple things: an evergreen tree, familiar carols, merry laughter.  It is the time of illumination, when candles burn, and old dreams find their youth again.  It is the time of pause, when forgotten joys come back to mind and past dedications renew their claim.  It is the time of harvest for the heart, when faith reaches out to mantle all high endeavor, and love whispers its magic word to everything that breathes.  Christmas returns, as it always does, with its assurance that life is good.

Yes,  Christmas returns as it always does,  to tell us how much we are loved by God.   I’m glad Christmas is coming. Are you?